Ed Balls: ‘I didn’t come into politics to have a mansion tax’

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls told an audience at the JW3 community centre that he did not want to introduce a mansion tax but it would be necessary under a Labour government to save the NHS.

Mr Balls took part in a special Q&A for the community at the JW3, in Finchley Road, with Sky News presenter Samantha Simmonds last night.

After taking questions from the audience, Hampstead Garden Suburb resident Ms Simmonds raised the mansion tax.

She said: “I’m surprised this hasn’t come up, but will the policy cost Labour votes here?”

Mr Balls responded: “It’s not something I wanted to do, I didn’t come into politics to have a mansion tax.

“But I think at a time when the NHS is under pressure, family budgets are under pressure and you’ve seen a very, very big rise in house prices particularly at the top over the last 20 years, I think it’s fair.”